Coal-car cover.



IVI. SPRATLEN.

COAL CAR COVER.

APPUCATION FlLED SEPT-11,1916.

Patented J an. 2, 1917.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY co Pnamunm WASNING ION n L rare are MARY SPRATLEN, OF CONCORIDIA, KANSAS.

COAL-CAR COVER.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented J an. 2, 1917.

Application filed September 11, 1916. Serial No. 119,562.

To all whom it may concern Be itknown that I, MARY SPRATLEN, a

One of the main objects of the invention isto provide a cover for a coal car of simple construction and operation which can be easily moved into operative or inoperative position. I

A further object isto provide a cover which, when not in closed position, will not interfere with the loading or unloading of the car.

A still further object is to provide a cover which can be produced at a relatively low cost.

Further objects will appear from the detail description.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view of a coal car with the cover applied, Fig. 2 is a top plan view of. the same, Fig. 3 is an end view of the cover as applied in closed. position, and Fig. 4 is a modified form of the same.

Broadly stated my cover is composed of two hingedly mounted rectangular sections adapted, when in operative position, to extend entirely over the top of a coal car. Each section of the cover is composed of a rectangular frame 1 formed from a bar of steel bent into proper shape, the outer ends of the end arms 2 of which are bent to form eyes 3. A plurality of equally spaced longitudinally extending. rods 4 have their ends secured to the end bars 2, and these bars are interlaced with a plurality of equally spaced transversely extendingbars 5. The bars at and 5 cooperate to form a strong and rigid grille which is firmly secured in thetrame- 1. The outer ends of the transverse bars 5 are bent to form eyes similar to the eyes 3 of the end bars 2, and the eyes thus formed are all in alinement. A hinge rod 6 is mounted through U-straps 7 secured on the upper ends of the standards 8 mounted on the side of the car 9. This hinge bar is inserted through the alined eyes of the transverse rods 5 and bars 2, and has its ends bent at right-angles to form arms 10. These arms are inserted into U-straps 11 secured to the ends 9 of the car. This prevents rotation and longitudinal movement of'the hinge r'od. By this means each of the cover sections is hingedly mounted at its outer edge so as to swing freely about the rod 6.

The two sections of the cover are of such length as to extend the full exterior length of the car and each of the sections is of a width somewhat greater than half the width of the car.

On the upper edge of each end 9 of the car is mounted an approximately V-shaped block 12, the apex of which is at the trans verse center of the car. This block is detachably secured in position by means of hooks 13 pivoted on the end of the car. which engage with eyes 14; carried by the block. The block 12 provides means for supporting the ends of the cover sections whichJwhen in operative position are slightly inclined downwardly and outwardly, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.

. Each of the cover sections is provided at each end, with a depending approximately triangular sheet metal guard plate 15. This plate is bent around'the end bar 2 of the cover section so as to be supported thereby and is adapted to extend downwardly in front of the block 12 with its lower edge in engagement with the upper edge of the end of the car. Each of these plates is provided with an outwardly extending arm 16 provided at its outer end with an integral eye 17. The arms are so related that, when the cover sections are in closed position, the eyes 17 will be in superposed relation and willbe in alinement with a U-strap 18 secured to the block 12 and a U-strap 19 secured to the end of the car. A pin 20 is adapted to be inserted through the alined eyes and straps and is provided at its lower end with an aperture to receive a sealing. wire 21. This wire is intended to be passed through the lower end of the locking pin-and through an eye or staple 22 secured to the end of the car, after which the ends of the wire are connected by a seal 23 in the usual manner. By this arrangement it is impossible to open the car Without breaking the seal 23. Even though the hooks 13 be moved out of engagement with the eyes 1 1, the block 12 would still be locked against movement by the pin 20 which would prevent outward movement of the block and the shields 15 which would prevent rotation of the block about the pin. In this manner the block 12,

are

' tions may the shields 15 and the pin 20, together with the U-straps and eyes, cooperate to prevent opening of the car or removal of the contents of the same.

Each of the sections of the cover is provided with a sheet metal strip or guard 24 securely clamped about the inner bar or side thereof. This guard acts as a protection for the inner side member of the cover section or sections and also serves to secure the transverse rods 5 in spaced relation and to prevent these rods from becoming detached from the inner side bar of the cover section. These guard plates also render it possible to effect a tight closure between the inner edges or sides of the two cover sections.

In Fig. 4; of the drawings, I have shown a modified securing means for the cover. In this figure, one of the guard plates is provided with a rectangular hook 25 pivotally secured thereto; This hook is adapted to be insertedthrough the eye 17 of the arm 16 carried by the other guard plate and through the U-strap 19 secured on the end of the car. The lower end of the vertical arm of this hook is apertured to receive a sealing wire so as to secure the hook in operative position in the manner previously described for securing the end of the pin 20.

By removing the pin 20, the cover secbe swung outwardly and downwardly about the hinge rods 6 so as to hang in an approximately vertical position in spaced relation to the side of the car. In this position the cover sections will occupy very little space and will not interfere in anyway with the loading or unloading of the car. Of course, when the cover sections have been moved into. inoperative position in the manner described, the guard plates 15 will be moved from in front of the blocks 12 so that these blocks may be quickly and easily detached from the ends of the car, if desired.

There may be slight changes made in the construction and arrangement of the difierent parts of my invention without departing from the field and scope of the same, and I intend to include all such variations, as fall within the scope of the appended claims in this application in which a preferred form only of my invention is disclosed.

Copies of this patent may be obtained ior tachably secured on five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. 0.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of a car body, two cover sections extending half the width of, the body and hingedly secured thereto at their outer sides, said sections being adapted to entirely close the top of the car body when in operative position, a supporting; block mounted on the end of the car and adapted to support the cover sections when in closed osition, guard plates extending in front of said block, and means for locking the block, the guard plates, and the cover sections against relative movement.

2. The combination of a car body, a cover section hingedly secured to the side of the body at its outer side, said sections being adapted to entirely close the top of the car body when in operativeposition, a supporting block detachably secured on the upper edge of the end of the car body adapted to support the cover sections when in closed position, guard plates carried by the cover sections and extending in front of theblock when the cover is closed, and means for se curing the block, the guardfplates,'and the cover sections in operative position.

3, The combination ofa car body, a cover section hingedly secured to each side of the body at the upper edge thereof, at its outer side, said cover sections being adapted to 'entirely close the top' of the car-body whenin l operative position, asupporting block dethe upper edge of each end of the car body, guard plates carried by the cover operative position, in front of said block,

eyes carried by the plates'and adapted to be in superposed relation when the plates are in operative position, a U-strap carried by the eyes, a U-strap secured to the end of the car in vertical alinement with the U-strap carried by the block, and. a securing-member adapted to be secured to the'alinedeyes and straps. i V

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature in'presence of two witnesses. V

' MARY SPRATLEN.

Witnesses:

J AMES S. ELLIS FLAVIA E. MAILHIOT.

Commissioner of Patentat sections and extending, when in block and in vertical alinement with said 

